Manchester United: Rudd van Nistelrooy purposely not helping Erik ten Hag, claims old foe Martin Keown

Martin Keown has pointed the finger at old rival Ruud van Nistelrooy, suggesting the Manchester United assistant coach is waiting for Erik ten Hag to be sacked.

Van Nistelrooy was appointed over the summer to help Ten Hag, having previously managed PSV Eindhoven and then turning down the Burnley manager job to become part of the United boss' backroom staff.

United's form has not improved from last season's worst-ever Premier League finish, with the 3-0 home loss to Tottenham considered by some as a new nadir for Ten Hag.

And Keown, who famously clashed with Van Nistelrooy two decades ago during the pair's playing days, has taken a fresh swipe at his former rival by suggesting the Dutchman is not doing enough to help his compatriot - and possibly on purpose.

"I'm looking at Van Nistelrooy," he said on talkSPORT. "Is he giving everything to this manager? This manager looks very lonely on the sideline.

"Is Van Nistelrooy waiting to take over? Because it looks as if there's going to be change taking place there.

He added: "Is everyone adding to the group? I'm not seeing that from Van Nistelrooy. Ten Hag is just sitting there, nothing going on, no conversation. Pep [Guardiola] goes back and speaks to the gurus next to him.

"Is everybody looking in the mirror at themselves giving their best? It doesn't look like the players are committed, it doesn't look like the staff are particularly committed. It's a lone man in the dugout."

He added: "You could look at it and say, 'well, OK, the management team that's in there, if they allowed him to lose that many games last year, then no wonder he's going to be allowed to carry on'.

“But I'm not sure that's the right way to go with this current manager. I think it's time now.”